A Conversation with my Supervisor

[raebabelvn, LVN]

Me: Hello?

Nursing Supervisor: Hi, this is (insert name), the nursing supervisor.

Me: Hi there.

NS: I noticed that you called out sick last week. I was told you had strep, did you see a doctor?

Me: Yes, I saw one over the weekend.

NS: Are you feeling better now? How are your symptoms?

Me: I'm doing much better. My symptoms are practically gone.

NS: The administrator (aka: case manager) asked me to call you. When you call out sick it puts a strain on the family and the office. Barring serious illness, you have to work your shifts. You've been inconsistent the past couple of weeks.

Me: I understand. The last couple of weeks have been rough with illness. I'm a very consistent worker. However, if I'm sick and very symptomatic, I'm not going to risk exposing my patient to those germs. The patient is already immunocompromised, and sick at the moment. Working while that sick is irresponsible.

NS: Oh yes, I understand. We never want our nurses to work when they're sick. It poses a health risk to our patients...

Me: Ok, I agree.

NS: ...but you need to work all your shifts.

Me: (getting irritated now) I'm sorry, but I'm not going to put my patient in a situation where he may catch a bug. His immune system cannot handle it.

NS: Are you working your shifts this weekend?

Me: Yes.

NS: Thank you (click!)

Wow.... talk about double standards! My patient caught a simple cold from a family member that stayed away from him while sick, and he was sick for 2 weeks. Can you imagine what strep would do?! I'm getting fed up with this agency. On top of this nonsense, I've been getting harassing and threatening calls about my CPR card that isn't even expired yet. I'm talking like 2-3 calls a day. So angry with them right now!!!!!

[carolmaccas66, BSN, RN]

What country r u in and what agency r u with?

I know EXACTLY what ur going thru. I do agency work and I had to go through some REAL hassles, before I found a good agency. I had to deal with a (no joke) psychotic, manic nurse manager who rang me UP TO 12 TIMES A DAY, for differing shifts when I'd told her, due to study commitments etc, I only do certain shifts & certain days. She would even ring on weekends around (or near) midnight and b/ween 5-6 am (and I NEVER do morning shifts). She rang back one day when I'd refused a shift & tartly said 'I can't help u anymore'. I wasn't shocked, I just said fair enough and told her roundly what I thought of her and that she seriously needed professional mental help. She was giving me a mouthful of abuse (truly, I'm not making this up!) and when I said to her I think I was was the one who was the professional and I hung up on her. she also used to send me abusive emails! That was so sweeeet telling her what I thought of her...

The next agency I worked a few shifts, had a bad shift one night, dismissed it as just that, then was rung the next morning being accused of doing things to a patient who had also been extremely abusive to me. I caught him fiddling with his PICC line & explained why he had to leave it. He wasn't happy about being in a certain hosp (wont' go in2 all the reasons why), was angry & decided to get me for that. I told the shift coordinator I couldn't nurse him, but they were short staffed, and he didn't want me nursing him. He was, in short, a pig (the nicest word I can put on here). I'd already interviewed with another agency (just in case!) and the agency accusing me of unsafe nursing, wouldn't support me in anyway, they dropped me like a hot potatoe - wouldn't even let me defend myself or anything. So I told THEIR NM where to go & that I already had been offered another job. Then she had the cheek to ask me where it was & salary details! Nosy cow! I told her it was confidential & that they were a much better agency, & I get paid more money (true). She hung up in disgust & I was chuckling with glee!

Seriously, my point is go to all the other agencies and ask them direct questions like I did. I set MY terms of employment, not the other way around. Ask them re sick time, where and when u can work, what is there sick call in policy, ie: do they fine u if u call in too late? If ur experienced, they will be accommodating. And don't go into details re the other agency. Just say they didn't suit u, or u weren't getting the shift u wanted - best not 2 give too much info away, just don't outright lie I suppose. Remember agencies are competitive as they get a lot of money for placing you, but you have to stand up for yourself re YOUR terms of employment.

Hope u find an agency that suits u. If u want to know mine (if ur in Oz) email me.

Caza

[DC Collins, ASN]

Time for a new agency :)

[dishes, BSN, RN]

I don't think the conversation was unreasonable, given that strep throat is not contagious after 24 hours of antibiotic and the symptoms improved, the average healthcare employer would expect the employee to return to work.

dishes

[roser13, ASN, RN]

I don't think the conversation was unreasonable, given that strep throat is not contagious after 24 hours of antibiotic and the symptoms improved, the average healthcare employer would expect the employee to return to work.

dishes

Then I think we all know an agency where you can apply for a soon-to-be-vacant position:D

[nohika]

I don't think the conversation was unreasonable, given that strep throat is not contagious after 24 hours of antibiotic and the symptoms improved, the average healthcare employer would expect the employee to return to work.

dishes

It sounded like (from her post) that she didn't see a doctor until /after/ she called out. So it's possible she didn't get antibiotics until then?

[David13, MSN, RN]

The manner in which this supervisor handled the situation tells you all that you need to know. One moment she is agreeing with you that a staff member should not risk exposing vulnerable patients to disease. She then goes on to immediately contradict herself and say that you need to work all of your scheduled shifts.

The message is loud and clear: "Come to work even when you are sick. We really do not care about you or the patients in your care."

[rn4ever?]

You should have said to the supervisor: “Yes, I’m coming in. By the way, I’d like to hang out in your office so we can chat. And oh, let me use your telephone too. You don’t think I’m contagious, right? So that should be fine.”

[tencat]

Yes, it's certainly not unreasonable to say "We don't want you to work when you're sick, but really even though we say that, we're lying through our teeth because we don't give a rat's patootie if you feel like hammered horse caca, or if you blithely pass along your bugs to immune compromised patients. As long as you've taken antibiotics, you should be good to go."

[hospicevet 20, ASN, RN]

Rather than getting angry at the NM, it might be more instructive to her to ask her how she would want you to handle it. Granted, it doesn't feel as good as telling someone to go suck an egg, or whatever, but it puts the responsibility of infection control, etc. on her, and makes you look soooo helpful and cooperative. If she asks you to work while you are contageous, I think you should probably go over her head, and use words like infection, days lost, poor community relations, poor patient outcomes, things that shift the focus to appropriate care and reputation.

[jgorderRN]

You should have said to the supervisor: "Yes, I'm coming in. By the way, I'd like to hang out in your office so we can chat. And oh, let me use your telephone too. You don't think I'm contagious, right? So that should be fine."

ENOUGH SAID :)

[RevolutioN2013]

Here you go...

Her: Yes, we don't want you to work when you're sick.

You: Good, then I'm glad we agree.

Her: Except that we really need you to work all of your shifts.

You: Oh yes, I agree. Except when I'm sick, right?

Her: Silence

You: Did I misunderstand? I thought we were in agreement that I should not come in when I am sick and potentially expose my patients to my illness. Right?

Her: Yes that's right.

You: Good, I'm glad we clarified that. By the way, I'm sure you'll be updating my personnel file with the details of this conversation. Please email a copy to me at [email protected]. I think it's really helpful for all of us to have the same documentation, just so there is no possibility for confusion in the future. Have a great day! (Smiling with your voice at this point since you have made her agree that you will not work sick and have made arrangements to obtain written proof of her telling you this)